The Grenada gazette., 1887-12-31

untrimmcd lamp placed on the read
ing-desk. The corners and the space
under the gallery looked dark and
eerie In the body of the church two
windows had been opened for the
night was close. The place was
deserted, save for the still white ocru'
pant of the little coffin inside the
chaucel rail. The pitifulness of it did
not strike me then; boys are callus am
lmals, and at the same time acutely
intolerant of pain. Iavoided looking
at the little one. and turned my
head as l passed tho bier for the
lamp which l wished to take
up into the pulpit with me- The
sight OF death was unfamiliar, was
appalling to me. The coffin was COW
cred with sheet, or white drapcry
of some sort, and the lid rested
against the altar-rail. There was a
perfume as of flowers which distilled
itself around. Some loving hand had
placed roses on the little silent breast.
The pulpit was one Of those old
fashioned, big box affairs. wherein
the minister is isolated, and lifted
high above his congregation II was
roomy and commodious, and in it l
decided to spend the night. l
trimmed and cleaned the lamp with
my knife and pocket-handkerchief,
and brought up piles of cushions from
the pews to elevate the seat so that l
might rest my elbows OH the reading
desk. l have provided myself with a
book, and l made my preparations
with great placidity, whistling under
my breath and in no wise incon-
venienced by my unfamiliar surround
ings.
Before opening my book I glanced
around me. Below lay the length of
the spectral building. shadowy sug-
gestive, given over to gloom and
Silence. The circle Of light scarcely
penetrated beyond the chancel, but
within it lay the coffin with its drapcry
of white and its faint perfume of roses.
Not breath stirred, and the night
was dark; through the open windows
l could see pale stars growing into
brightness. To poet they would have
seemed the lamps Of angel watchers
shedding radiance on the pathway Of
soul; to a school-boy they we're
nothing but stars.
Aftcr one glance to see that all was
we'll opened my book and lost con-
seriousness of my surroundings in the
interest of the story.
An hour passed, perhaps more.
when l was startled by sharp.
scratching sound down in the body of
the church. followed by light
thud, as though something heavy.
but elastic had been thrown
through the open window The
thought flashed through lie That some
of the boys. knowing of my solitude.
were trying to frighten me, and my
temper rose. Leaning over the edge
of the pulpit. Ipeercd down intently,
but at first could discover nothing.
Then l made out tive phosphorcsceNi
spots close to the wall, under one OF
the benches. and while l wondered
what it could be. the scratching.
scrambling noise was repeated. and
there was another soft thud. Then
hideous stories of cats. and rats, and
evil beasts of all sorts, and of their
attacking the dead, rushed back on
my mind and turned inc sick with dis
gust.
BY the time l got down the pulpit
steps there were two more thuds, and
l knew that four night prowler.
lurked under the benches. with Heav'
en- only knew how many outside. The
horror of it did not come to mo unit
long atterward, at the time my inter
est in my book was so alb
sorbing, that after that one shudder O
disgust my most pronounced emotion
was annoyance at the interruption.
| WIGn uHu uIItCu Out tuc Suto AH'V
cned both windows and locked the
door before returning to my book.
One hour--two-passcd quietly; Tho
interest Of the story deepened. and led
by the authors magic l followed ca.
gcrly through realms Of romance ant
wild adventure. Suddenly, without
the slightest provocalion, my eyes
wandered from The page and fastened
on the door away at the end OF tho
building. Il did not surprise me that
/ could see it distinctly. although Tho
light from the lamp was dim and
unable to penetrate that distance; thu
brcathlcss air seemed waitng-ant
then stirred with some vague presence
waited also, not frightened or nerv
ous, only curious and deeply in
tercstcd. The door l had lockct
appeared to open, and the empt.
space was filed with familia
figure. II was Mrs. Wilmington, an
nv first emotion was surprise ant
pleasure that she should DO better, my
second, q shy. uncomfortable sort o
sympathy. ! shrank back into th'